Showing 28 posts tagged honor

SOLDIER STORIES: Valuing Something Greater Than Self

[Salvatore Giunta, you are a strong, beautiful human being. -R]

thedurdydozen: Sgt. Dakota Meyer and President Barack Obama grab a beer together in the Rose Garden, a request that Meyer made when he was informed that he was going to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Sgt. Meyer is the first living Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. Meyer, a corporal at the time, went against orders to save a dozen Marines and two platoons of Afghan army troops who were ambushed by over 150 enemy combatants. With the help of Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez and Captain Ademola D. Fabayo, Meyer made five trips into the ambush to save 36 men, and to bring home the bodies of three Marines and a Navy corpsman. Dakota, I know that you’ve grappled with the grief of that day; that you’ve said your efforts were somehow a “failure” because your teammates didn’t come home. But as your Commander-in-Chief, and on behalf of everyone here today and all Americans, I want you to know it’s quite the opposite. You did your duty, above and beyond, and you kept the faith with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps that you love. —President Obama High-res

thedurdydozen:

Sgt. Dakota Meyer and President Barack Obama grab a beer together in the Rose Garden, a request that Meyer made when he was informed that he was going to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Sgt. Meyer is the first living Marine to be awarded the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.

Meyer, a corporal at the time, went against orders to save a dozen Marines and two platoons of Afghan army troops who were ambushed by over 150 enemy combatants. With the help of Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez and Captain Ademola D. Fabayo, Meyer made five trips into the ambush to save 36 men, and to bring home the bodies of three Marines and a Navy corpsman.

Dakota, I know that you’ve grappled with the grief of that day; that you’ve said your efforts were somehow a “failure” because your teammates didn’t come home. But as your Commander-in-Chief, and on behalf of everyone here today and all Americans, I want you to know it’s quite the opposite. You did your duty, above and beyond, and you kept the faith with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps that you love.

—President Obama

(via andrewwadenunn)

The meaning of sacrifice.

jamie-wolf-harding:

“When a soldier was injured and could not get back to safety, his buddy went out to get him, against his officer’s orders. He returned mortally wounded, and his friend, whom he had carried back, was dead.

The officer was angry. ‘I told you not to go,’ he said. ‘Now I’ve lost both of you. It was not worth it.’

The dying man repied, But it was, sir, because when I got to him, he said, ‘Jim, I knew you’d come.’”

- Leslie D. Weatherhead.

(via kaalinfantry)

‘Ohana. sempersax: The coin I got tonight. [Words cannot express how much I wish I could’ve been there…] High-res

‘Ohana.

sempersax:

The coin I got tonight.

[Words cannot express how much I wish I could’ve been there…]

Remember the Fallen: Warrior Ethos in Action. October 3 marks the Anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu, Day of the Rangers, commonly known as BLACK HAWK DOWN.Stand at attention and salute; a special salute to SF Delta SFC Randy Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon, who both earned the Medal of Honor for saving the life of Michael Durant. High-res

Remember the Fallen: Warrior Ethos in Action.

October 3 marks the Anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu, Day of the Rangers, commonly known as BLACK HAWK DOWN.

Stand at attention and salute; a special salute to SF Delta SFC Randy Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon, who both earned the Medal of Honor for saving the life of Michael Durant.

(via soldierporn)

Remember the Fallen: Nineteen Years Ago Today

1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta

Master Sergeant Gary Gordon. Died defending the crew of the Super Six-Four. Medal of Honor. Purple Heart.

Specialist First Class Randy Shughart. Died defending the crew of the Super Six-Four. Medal of Honor. Purple Heart.

Staff Sergeant Daniel Busch. Crashed on Super Six-One, mortally wounded while defending crew. Silver Star. Purple Heart.

Specialist First Class Earl Fillmore. Died en route to first crash site. Silver Star. Purple Heart.

Master Sergeant Timothy “Griz” Martin. Mortally wounded on Lost Convoy. Silver Star. Purple Heart.

3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment

Corporal Jamie Smith. Mortally wounded near crash site one. Silver Star with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster. Purple Heart.

Specialist James Cavaco. Died on Lost Convoy. Bronze Star with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

Sergeant Casey Joyce. Died on Lost Convoy. Bronze Star with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

Private First Class Richard “Alphabet” Kowalewski. Mortally wounded on Lost Convoy. Bronze Star with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

Sergeant Dominic Pilla. Died on Struecker’s Convoy. Bronze Star with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

Sergeant Lorenzo Ruiz. Mortally wounded on Lost Convoy. Bronze Star with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR)

Staff Sergeant William Cleveland. Crew Chief on Super Six-Four. Silver Star. Bronze Star. Air Medal with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

Staff Sergeant Thomas Field. Crew Chief on Super Six-Four. Silver Star. Air Medal with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Raymond Frank. Copilot of Super Six-Four. Silver Star. Air Medal with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Clifton “Elvis” Wolcott. Pilot of Super Six-One. Distinguished Flying Cross. Bronze Star. Air Medal with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Donovan “Bull” Briley. Copilot of Super Six-One. Distinguished Flying Cross. Bronze Star. Air Medal with Valor Device. Purple Heart.

2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division

Sergeant Cornell Houston. Rescue convoy. Bronze Star with Valor Device. De Fleury Medal. Purple Heart.

Private First Class James Martin Jr. Rescue convoy. Purple Heart.

19th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, Malaysian Army

Private First Class Mat Aznan Awang. Killed by RPG strike to APC. Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa medal.

conorkenway:

“You know, they say the World War II guys were the ‘Best Generation’. Well, those who have fought every war since were the best of their generation. They went, they served, they sacrificed, and they fought like tigers. They were noble.” — Joe Galloway

(via do-or-die-ydg)

SOLDIER STORIES: Kamdesh Veteran Holds True to Promise

[This video appeared on #soldierporn at some point last fall. If you don’t recall Rodriguez’s story, watch it again. He made a promise to his battle buddy that he’d play football again. His battle buddy was KIA.

Today, thanks to a link on Michael Yon’s facebook page (don’t judge) I found the following blogpost and article.

Never make a promise you don’t intend to give your last breath to keep. -R]

Kamdesh Veteran Plays Football For Clemson

(Blogpost by HERSCHEL SMITH, 2 August 2012)

For some time now I have observed High School and College age kids to try to determine the degree to which they appreciate and understand the sacrifice that the men in uniform have made, especially combat veterans.  Frankly, it’s a disturbing practice that has led in no small part to a sort of loss of hope in this generation.  Many are consumed with video games, comfort, and their own well being.

Occasionally though, something like this comes along.  A combat veteran of the Battle of Kamdesh is going to play football for my alma mater, Clemson University.

Clemson adds Army Purple Heart recipient Daniel Rodriguez to its roster.

(Article by Graham Watson, 2 August 2012.)

It’s always been Daniel Rodriguez’s dream to play college football, but that dream had to be deferred when he decided to join the Army after high school.

Six years after the decision, Clemson is finally making Rodriguez’s dream come true.

On Wednesday, the school announced Rodriguez, a 24-year-old, 5-foot-8 receiver, was cleared by the ACC to join the Tigers.

“I am very happy for Daniel,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said in a release. “He is getting the opportunity to follow his dream. We are excited to have him join our program. I have no doubt that he will become a great leader for us. His background and story is an inspiration to us all.”

Rodriguez served as an Army infantryman in both Iraq and Afghanistan from 2006-10. In October 2009, Rodriguez was wounded in the battle of Kamdesh after more than 400 Taliban insurgents stormed a small American base. Rodriguez took shrapnel in his legs and neck, and a bullet fragment in his shoulder. He was awarded a Bronze Star of Valor and Purple Heart for his bravery in the fight.

Rodriguez was honorably discharged in 2010, and when he left the Army he did so intending on following through on a promise he made to his good friend Pfc. Kevin Thompson, who was killed in the battle. That promise was to find a way to play college football.

Rodriguez, who hasn’t played football since high school, first shared his story and his workouts on a YouTube video that ultimately went viral. He has since been featured on the cover of USA Today, and has been profiled on CNN and “Dan Rather Reports.”

Rodriguez understands that he’s not going to come into Clemson and be some sort of world-beater on the field, but he’s grateful for the opportunity and hopes his leadership will become an asset. Watch the above video, it will make you want to root for Rodriguez to do well.

“I’m not this high-scouted athlete expected to change this program,” Rodriguez said. “I’m just a cog on the wheel that’s going to play my role and better the team from an individual standpoint and give insight from what I’ve been through as a person. If I can help mold some of these guys in the locker room to have the same perspective on life I have, that’s a benefit.”

theonus: fuckkyeahafghanistan: Dead soldier’s friend tells why a funeral dress was the only way to honour him. The Observer. “Kev was like my brother – we would have done anything for each other.We said that whoever died first, the other one had to wear a pink dress with green spots to the funeral – and we shook on it. It was mainly his idea and the more I think about it, I’m sure Kevin knew something was going to happen.I looked for the exact dress but couldn’t find one anywhere.I eventually picked up the green one in Primark and bought the pink pop socks to make it look even sillier. It’s what Kev would have wanted.Kev told his whole family about the pact, so I couldn’t back out. I had a word with him at the graveside and asked if he liked the color – I’m sure I could hear laughter coming out of the ground.Kev was a true hero and someone I’m proud to call my best mate.” Respect. Always reblog.

theonus:

fuckkyeahafghanistan:

Dead soldier’s friend tells why a funeral dress was the only way to honour him. The Observer.

“Kev was like my brother – we would have done anything for each other.
We said that whoever died first, the other one had to wear a pink dress with green spots to the funeral – and we shook on it. It was mainly his idea and the more I think about it, I’m sure Kevin knew something was going to happen.
I looked for the exact dress but couldn’t find one anywhere.
I eventually picked up the green one in Primark and bought the pink pop socks to make it look even sillier. It’s what Kev would have wanted.
Kev told his whole family about the pact, so I couldn’t back out. I had a word with him at the graveside and asked if he liked the color – I’m sure I could hear laughter coming out of the ground.
Kev was a true hero and someone I’m proud to call my best mate.”

Respect.

Always reblog.